At Least They Waited Until Gerald Ford Died To Do This

It slipped under the radar last week because it's February but the University of Michigan rounded out it's 2007 football schedule with an unusual opponent. They will kick off the home season against Appalachian State on September 1.

If you're giving yourself a migraine trying to figure out which conference ASU plays in take an Excedrin and chill the fuck out. They aren't a Division I-A team so you are going to have to dig a little deeper, down to Division I-AA's Southern Conference. That sound you heard is indeed Bo Schembechler, Fielding Yost and Gary Moeller turning over in their graves. Moeller's making the noise because he was just drunk and buried alive but the first two guys are spinning because they are really upset that Michigan would schedule that kind of a team.

It's not like the Mountaineers aren't a good team, they've won back to back I-AA national titles, it's just that they aren't a Division I-A team. They are also a good hoops squad, get to know them with the Extrapolater here, but they play with the big boys in that sport. I know other big-time programs do this - Florida played Western Carolina en route to the National Championship - but it feels wrong for Michigan to do it. I'm sure that ASU is better than some D-1 schools, probably even better than Eastern Michigan, another Wolverine opponent, but it's a really bush league thing to do. Leaders and Best my ass.

Athletic Director Bill Martin's defense of the move doesn't help. He probably could have scheduled a home-and-home series with a higher caliber opponent but "said it is not prudent for Michigan to schedule a road game because the Wolverines lose on the financial end." Oregon visits the Big House this season, USC goes to Nebraska, hell even Texas is playing at Central Florida, how big of a hit can it be? And when you're raking in 4 million bucks per home game I'm thinking that greed's playing a bigger role especially since, as the M Zone reports in their righteously angry screed about the game, you waited until everyone paid for their seats before announcing this garbage game.

Comments

[extrapolater]

I don't know if you've seen my post about ASU (albeit about basketball), but the Apps are really, REALLY excited about this game. I was reminded several times that ASU won back-to-back championships in the bowl subdivision or whatever it's called.

[extrapolater]

Hi. Me=moron who can't read.

[Matt]

Well, that's Michigan's fault for doing that, don't belittle ASU for it. Maybe there's some nervousness, perhaps???

[The Feed]

Matt - No one's belittling ASU for anything. They get a nice payday, a chance to play in the Big House and a shot at the biggest upset in college football history. Believe me I'm only angry at Michigan for scheduling a school outside of D-1.

Extrapolater - Reading's fundamental, buddy. Thanks for adding this to your getting to know the Mountaineers piece.

[extrapolater]

As I'm sure you can see in your incoming links, theres a guy named Jon West (porn star? you be the judge) who is angry at us for besmirching.

[Jon West]

Haha, I'm not angry. I thought it was more funny than anything. Both of your posts were well written and I enjoyed them. It just supports the fact that ASU gets no respect. And I've been out of the porn biz for weeks now...

[extrapolater]

Yeah, losing Anna Nicole can sap a guy's will to keep on going.

[Appalchian all the way]

Michigan will most likely win by 30+ points, although App isn't that bad, we lost to LSU in 2005 23-0. Like a regular score. I just hope App's star quarterback Armanti Edwards doesn't get injured. (He is only 165 pounds but he is quick). I hope Michigan makes the National Championship and wins but I do have to hope that Appalachian wins the game.

[BJ]

:) This is just funny now.

[Samantha]

HAH! Look at Appalachian State now! We won!

Boone, NC